Aviation
Loses One of its Best Aerobatic Performers
 Guy
"Doc" Baldwin crashes during performance at Tucumcari (NM)
By Ralph McCormick
October 5 - One of our best aerobatic performers
was killed yesterday at the Tucumcari air show. The air show, held on
Wednesday, is one of New Mexico's best air shows put on by the Tucumcari
Rotary club. In the 14 years of the air show, this is the first
accident.
"Doc" Baldwin was the second aerobatic act to
perform. He had just begun his performance. He performed several
maneuvers, made a low pass from the west and pulled up to a vertical
hammerhead and then returned back down the same direction. He at the
bottom of the maneuver he pulled the Extra 300 back to straight and
level. From the photos that I took, it appeared that he remained level
for some time and pulled up into a loop. Coming out of the loop,
he pass overhead I took one more photograph and
immediately after that the plane appeared to just fly to the ground.
The plane impacted just a few feet from the
taxiway. The plane skidded several hundred feet rolling and tumbling
before it stopped. I was the first person to arrive at the crash scene,
followed immediately by Tucumcari fireman. “Doc” was killed on impact.
There was no fire. The impact caused the Extra to explode into pieces
and the wings were non-existent after the plane stopped. That
eliminated the possibility of fire... I shot photos of “Doc” going over
his plane with the Tucumcari firemen and the emergency actions
necessary, should there be an accident. He went into great detail with
them.
| Impact Crater - plane remains in the distance |
The cause of the accident is unknown. Pictures and
video being shot at the time of the accident have been loaned to the FAA
for inspection. The NTSB will provide their opinion of the cause of the
crash in about a year. Weather conditions were perfect for an air show,
clear sky, cool, but strong east wind. 
“Doc” was a good friend of mine and I, along with
thousands of others, will miss him dearly. He was 60 years of age.
| "Doc" explaining the features of the Extra 300 to
TCC firemen |
FLY-LOW will have more on the accident and the life
of “Doc” Baldwin in out next issue.
|
